Police released this security camera image showing Ian Stawicki, the man suspected of shooting five people Wednesday at Café Racer in northeast Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes later. Seattle Police said
they believed it was also tied to Stawicki. The suspect later shot himself in
West Seattle. He died at Harborview Medical Center.

Police released this security camera image showing Ian Stawicki, the man suspected of shooting five people Wednesday at Café Racer in northeast Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another

A victim is placed in an ambulance after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes later. Seattle Police said they believed it was the same suspect. The suspect later shot himself in West Seattle. He died at Harborview Medical Center. less

A victim is placed in an ambulance after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 3 of 37

Seattle Police officers search yards and go door to door after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes later. Seattle Police said
they believed it was the same suspect. The suspect later shot himself in
West Seattle. He died at Harborview Medical Center. less

Seattle Police officers search yards and go door to door after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 4 of 37

Employees, friends and relatives of those injured gather after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Employees, friends and relatives of those injured gather after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 5 of 37

Image 6 of 37

Witnesses are interviewed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Witnesses are interviewed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 7 of 37

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 8 of 37

Police surround a house in the University district in Seattle near a cafe where a gunman killed four people.

Police surround a house in the University district in Seattle near a cafe where a gunman killed four people.

Photo: Elaine Thompson

Image 9 of 37

A woman is helped from the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

A woman is helped from the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 10 of 37

Image 11 of 37

Police investigate a car in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood that was abandoned by an apparent gunman believed to have shot and killed a woman earlier in the day. Police say the same gunman earlier Wednesday killed four people in a cafe in Seattle's University District. less

Police investigate a car in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood that was abandoned by an apparent gunman believed to have shot and killed a woman earlier in the day. Police say the same gunman earlier Wednesday ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson

Image 12 of 37

A Seattle Police SWAT team uses a vehicle for protection as they walk to a house where a shooting suspect was said to have previously lived.

A Seattle Police SWAT team uses a vehicle for protection as they walk to a house where a shooting suspect was said to have previously lived.

Photo: Ted S. Warren

Image 13 of 37

University of Washington police officers secure the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

University of Washington police officers secure the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 14 of 37

Seattle Police officers secure the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Seattle Police officers secure the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 15 of 37

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Officers interview witnesses after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Officers interview witnesses after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 17 of 37

People watch the scene unfold after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE. Shocked neighborhood residents watched the chaos unfold at the local gathering spot.

People watch the scene unfold after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE. Shocked neighborhood residents watched the chaos unfold at the local gathering spot.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

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Tactical officers work the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Tactical officers work the scene after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 19 of 37

An officer doing a door to door sweep aims his weapon into a yard after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

An officer doing a door to door sweep aims his weapon into a yard after five people were shot at Cafe Racer.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

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Two members of a Seattle Police SWAT team walk to a house where a suspect was said to have previously lived.

Two members of a Seattle Police SWAT team walk to a house where a suspect was said to have previously lived.

Photo: Ted S. Warren

Image 22 of 37

Employees, friends and relatives of those injured gather after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Employees, friends and relatives of those injured gather after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 23 of 37

People bring flowers after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

People bring flowers after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 24 of 37

Seattle Police officers search a camper after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

Seattle Police officers search a camper after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 25 of 37

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Police stand near a house in the University district in Seattle close to the cafe where a gunman killed three people.

Police stand near a house in the University district in Seattle close to the cafe where a gunman killed three people.

Photo: Elaine Thompson

Image 27 of 37

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes later. Seattle Police said
they believed it was the same suspect. The suspect later shot himself in
West Seattle. He later died at Harborview Medical Center. less

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 28 of 37

A Seattle Police SWAT team member drives down a street after officers searched a house in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Seattle.

A Seattle Police SWAT team member drives down a street after officers searched a house in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Seattle.

Photo: Ted S. Warren

Image 29 of 37

Police investigate a car in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood that was abandoned by an apparent gunman believed to have shot and killed people in Seattle.

Police investigate a car in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood that was abandoned by an apparent gunman believed to have shot and killed people in Seattle.

Photo: Elaine Thompson

Image 30 of 37

Image 31 of 37

Seattle Police officers search yards and go door to door after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

Seattle Police officers search yards and go door to door after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 32 of 37

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt
Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 minutes later. Seattle Police said
they believed it was the same suspect. The suspect later shot himself in
West Seattle. He later died at Harborview Medical Center. less

A body is removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt
Way NE in Seattle. Four of the victims died from the violence. Another person was shot and
killed in downtown Seattle about 30 ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 33 of 37

Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in West Seattle.

Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in West Seattle.

Photo: Elaine Thompson

Image 34 of 37

People watch as bodies are removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

People watch as bodies are removed after five people were shot at Cafe Racer on Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Image 35 of 37

Image 36 of 37

Police released this photo showing the man suspected of shooting five people Wednesday at Café Racer in northeast Seattle. He was later tied to a shooting downtown that killed a woman.

Police released this photo showing the man suspected of shooting five people Wednesday at Café Racer in northeast Seattle. He was later tied to a shooting downtown that killed a woman.

Image 37 of 37

Shooting suspect visited bar before; gave off a 'bad vibe'

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It was early last week when a group of regulars at Cafe Racer noticed a "creepy" drunk man acting belligerently in the bar.

The bartender planned to kick him out – something that had happened before. On another night, the same man had picked fights with musicians.

Seattle police say the same man, Ian L. Stawicki, went back to Cafe Racer about 11 a.m. Wednesday and opened fire with two semi-automatic handguns. One victim grabbed a barstool to protect himself, but Stawicki managed to shoot five people before leaving.

Six people died Wednesday in Seattle, including Stawicki, who shot himself in the head as police approached him in West Seattle.

Two victims, Drew Keriakedes and Joe Albranese died at Cafe Racer, in the 5800 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. Two others shot there died later at Harborview Medical Center. A fifth victim, Leonard Meuse, survived surgery and was in critical but stable condition late Thursday, a Harborview spokeswoman said.

Gloria Leonidas, a married mother of two from Bellevue, was killed moments before Stawicki - fleeing from police in North Seattle - stole her black Mercedes Benz SUV from the parking lot at Eighth Avenue and Seneca Street, next to Town Hall.

Keriakedes played bass in the band Circus Contraption and God's Favorite Beefcake, which played the Northwest Folklife Festival Saturday.

"He was instrumental in making Cafe Racer what it was," said Otheim, his friend and a fellow musician. "He was a regular, went there every day."

Keriakedes was a kind of jack-of-all-trades, Otheim said. He shared knowledge of his favorite books, talked music theory, "told the best dirty jokes," and did all kinds of circus burlesque tricks, including lying on a bed of nails. Once when a fellow Cafe Racer regular had a toothache, Keriakedes filled in as a dentist and pulled it.

"He seems like one of those guys with a lot of fascinating stories to tell," said Otheim, who lives across the alley from the shooting scene.

As word of the shooting spread, regulars thought back to the creepy, belligerent guy they'd seen at the bar. Otheim had a feeling he might be responsible and told detectives.

Finding out Keriakedes and Albranese were among the dead made for a surreal day, friends said.

"He was sort of Racers' impresario and built up the scene," Otheim said of Keriakedes. "He's going to be missed by a lot of people."

Suspect's history with police

Stawicki had prior contacts with police, but a relatively short record.

Police say he had charges for domestic violence interference, fourth-degree assault, malicious mischief and a 1989 Seattle case for unlawfully carrying a weapon. But records show only a 1995 case for driving with a suspended license case that resulted in an adverse finding.

A Seattle case from 2008 that included charges for domestic violence interference, assault and property damage were dismissed because of proof problems.

Unaware that Stawicki had moved south after the Cafe Racer shooting, police with high-powered rifles combed through the neighborhood around Roosevelt Way Northeast. Police fielded numerous calls from neighbors who saw someone they thought could be the shooter. Anxiety was high as police told residents to stay inside.

Nearby Roosevelt High School was among several schools on lockdown.

Investigators couldn't say with certainty Thursday whether Stawicki, 40, took his mother's truck or hopped onto a Metro bus to get to the 1100 block of Eighth Avenue, where he killed Leonidas. The two were seen arguing immediately before she was shot, Detective Mark Jamieson said.

After her SUV and a handgun were found abandoned near the intersection of Delridge Way Southwest and Southwest Dakota Street, uniformed and undercover officers flooded the area. Residents there also were told to stay inside, and several West Seattle schools were placed on various forms of lockdown.

Shortly after 4 p.m., a plainclothes officer spotted Stawicki near 36th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Morgan Street and called for backup.

As uniformed officers approached Stawicki, he knelt down to the ground and shot himself in the head.

The investigation is still ongoing, and detectives have not released any motive in the slayings – the worst since Kyle Huff killed six and wounded two others in a March 2006 Capitol Hill shooting spree.

The number of Seattle homicides peaked in 1994 when there were 69, according to department data.

Standing with other city leaders Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Mike McGinn said it's the police department's "highest priority to identify the strategies to try to bring an end to this wave of gun violence."

But with no suspects identified in the Central District shooting and the lack of cooperation hindering dozens of unsolved Seattle shooting cases – both from this year and previous years – some Seattle residents question whether a solution can come quickly.